The Portland daily press., 1887-09-24
Young Charles Dickens.
[Harper's Weekly.l


The name Of one of the greatest of En-
glish novelists has not lost its magnetism,
and the eldest son Of Charles Dickens will
be welcomed to America for his fathers
sake. He comes to repeat his fathers fa-
nous readings. and the English critics say
that, thout attempting to initiate the inim-
table Boz" he has inherited much of his
fathers quaint dramatic talent. If Charles
Dickens had not been a great novelist, it is
conceded that he would have been great
comedian. His brother Frederick, who re-
markably resembled him in personal appear
ance. though not in literary abilities, was
like him in being capital amateur actor
Twenty years ago an American manager
proposed to Frederick Dickens here to read
from his brothers books, and perhaps this
scheme decided Charles Dickens to pay us
his second memorable visit. Now, after a
preliminary. season in the English provinces
to test and develop his elocutiOnary powers.
the Y of Charles Dickens is substituted
for /; brother.
WAen the unfortunate estrangement be-
tween Dickens and his wife was made pub
lie. and a separation ensued, the young
Charles manfufly decided to Stay with his
mother. and thus won the respect of every-
body who knew the sad story. Dickens
himself honored the boy for this choice, and
In subsequent years opened his heart and
ms home to his eldest son, and treated him
as his heir. Charles was carefully educated,
but it was thought that his tastes were com
mercial, and Miss Coutts, now the baroness
Burdett-Coutts. took charge of him and his
fortunes. de was sent out to China, several
openings were found for him in the city, and
even after his fathers death Charles was in
terested in a large printing speculation, with
its headquarters at the Crystal Palace But
his father, without seeking to interest him
In literature, constantly endeavored to train
him into the business management of All
the Year Round, and this weekly magazine,
Of which he is still the proprietor is now as
widely circulated as when ir enjoyed the
splendid prestige of its original editorship.
Probably, II the younger Dickens had no
been oyershadowed by his fathers fame, he
would have become recognized author. He
has written and compiled hand-books of the
Thames and of London which show excel
lent style and taste. But as young man his
similarity to his father was most noticeable
in his after-dinner speeches at the various
literary clubs, like the Savage, to which he
belonged. Ready, witty, fluent, graceful,
and on occasions fOrcible and convincing,
the young Dickins proved himself the
as. a writer. 1t was this pecularity which
led his friends to urge him to re-
sumo his fathers pnblic readings, and about
year ago he consented. His debut was
MADE In London, but modeStly alta suburban
to a hall in Harlem
here-and his selections were from Dombey
and Son and Bob Sawyer's Party. His sue
cess was immediate and encouraging, and he
has since devoted himself to eultivating his
voice and studying the dramatic possibilities
Of platform readings.
Dickens acted the characters whose words
he repeated, and none who ever heard him
can forget his impersonation of Nancy Sykes
and Sam Weller. He left carefully marked
copies Of his readings. and moreover, he
used to rehearse them frequently before
family parties at Gadshll when young
Charles was present, Thus the present
reader is in complete possession of what is
technically called the ''business''
OF his father, including every
gesture and infection. But, very wisely
he does not confne himself to these notes,
but endeavors to realize the characters for
himself, and depict them in his own way.
we speak OF him as young, but he is now
fifty years Of age, having been born in 1887
His likeness to his father may be judged
from the portrait herewith presented We'll
come, as we have said, for his fathers sake,
his American reception as reader will de-
pend, not upon his name nor his likeness to
Dickens, but his ability to portray his
fathers characters naturally and effectively.
In this art the English critics assure us he Is
exceptionally successful.